First definition

First as a noun

1. the first or highest in an ordering or series

   "He wanted to be the first"

   Same sense: number one

2. the first element in a countable series

   "the first of the month"

   Same sense: number one

3. the time at which something is supposed to begin

   Same sense: get-go, start, starting time, beginning, offset, commencement, outset, kickoff

4. the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed at first of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate)

   Same sense: first base

5. an honours degree of the highest class

   Same sense: first-class honours degree

6. the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving

   Same sense: low, first gear, low gear

First as an adjective

7. preceding all others in time or space or degree

   "the first house on the right"

8. highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections

   "first soprano"

9. serving to begin

   "the first verse"

   Same sense: beginning

10. ranking above all others

    "was first in her class"

    Same sense: world-class, foremost

11. serving to set in motion

    "his first (or maiden) speech in Congress"

    Same sense: initiative, maiden, inaugural, initiatory

First as an adverb

12. before anything else

    "first we must consider the garter snake"

    Same sense: first of all, first off, foremost, firstly

13. the initial time

    "when Felix first saw a garter snake"

14. before another in time, space, or importance

    "I was here first"

15. prominently forward

    Same sense: foremost

Synonyms and antonyms

• number one
• get-go
• start definition
• starting time
• beginning
• offset
• commencement
• outset
• kickoff
• first base
• first-class honours degree
• low definition
• first gear
• low gear
• world-class
• foremost
• initiative
• maiden
• inaugural
• initiatory
• first of all
• first off
• firstly

Opposites: last, second.

All synonyms of first, sense by sense

How to say first

First has 1 syllable and rhymes with worst. Syllable counts and rhymes come from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary.

Words that rhyme with first

• worst
• burst
• reversed
• cursed
• thirst
• dispersed
• immersed
• versed
• outburst
• coerced
• hurst
• interspersed

All 26 words that rhyme with first

FIRST in word games

Scrabble

8

Words With Friends

8

Anagrams

2

Is FIRST a valid Scrabble word? Yes, it is in the ENABLE list most word games use. Check FIRST in the word checker, or unscramble FIRST to see its 2 anagrams and the shorter words in its letters.